BAND HANDBOOK
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DONNA SHEPARD INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL BAND HANDBOOK |
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We are here to perform music. Anything that gets in the way of maximizing our music is INAPPROPRIATE and is NOT allowed. Music is not our primary business, it is our ONLY business. You cannot get the "FF" (FUN FACTOR) without this kind of focus. THIS IS OUR "PRIME DIRECTIVE." Do not let anything interrupt this objective.
In a piece of music, it means "fortissmo," Italian for "very loud." In the Donna Shepard Band, FF also means "FUN FACTOR!" This is the incredibly powerful feeling of joy and success that can ONLY be experienced when you and/or your teammates have played a piece of music to the very best of your ability. This also refers to the attitude in which we approach anything we are going to play. You can make the FF happen even if you are playing only one note in class; the FF can be inside a single note. And if it's inside every note, then it can happen anytime you play. Your Band Directors will also add FF "special" items to your performances throughout the year. Be ready for them by playing perfectly.
As soon as we can! There are very basic mental and physical processes need to play any note or series of notes. As soon as we have learned these fundamentals, we will be ready to play a song:
At this point we will be ready to make a sound. If done properly, according to instructions, playing 3-4 notes to form a "song" will be easy. The entire process above can take from 1-3 weeks depending on the level of effort applied practicing at home. Please note: It is impossible to successfully play an instrument without learning the steps above. There are no shortcuts.
In order for a sound (or a song) to come out of your horn, it has to be "in your head" first. If your teacher said "draw a picture of a dog, a BIG dog, big GREEN dog, a big, green dog with a bushy tail and shark fins," you would have to see that in your mind before you could draw it successfully. The same is true for sound. If you cannot hear in your head what you are going to play, you don't know what picture to paint with your sound. "Singing" not only helps you get the sound into your head, it helps you recognize notes and patterns of notes that are used to create songs. The better you sing, the better you will play. And the better you sing, the EASIER it will be for you to play!
No. You may never touch anything that doesn't belong to you, and no one may touch your things. #1, by playing someone else's instrument you are sharing their germs. It's just like chewing someone else's gum. #2 Damage may occur and you will be responsible for it #3. Your job is your instrument, not a different one.
No. Each instrument gets "difficult" at some point. And this is EXACTLY the point you need to pass through to become a player. If you switch you will find yourself with exactly the same problem on your new instrument. If this pattern continues, you will never be able to play any instrument.
Everyone gets frustrated. Don't give up. Just keep going. This feeling will pass if you keep working.
GO POTTY BEFORE YOU COME TO CLASS! That's why we have 5 minutes between classes. Once you get to the band hall, you are there for the entire period. YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE CLASS UNLESS YOU ARE ILL. In case of illness, you will go to the nurse first. She will decide what you need after that.
No. You only play your instrument when instructed to do so. You never play before class, after class, before school, after school, etc. YOU ONLY PLAY WHEN YOUR TEACHER TELLS YOU TO.
No. You are NOT allowed to use the phone in the band hall. It is for band business only. You will need to go to the main office between classes or during gym to call. You may not leave band due to mistakes you've made in other classes.
No. The band hall is large, but it is NOT a gymnasium, it is a rehearsal hall. It is your director's classroom. You are allowed to be in the room ONLY as long as you can follow the rules of conduct. It is NOT "your" room. Your director takes care of it, sets it up and lives in it all day long, year after year. If you cannot behave according to band expectations, then you do not get to be in the band hall. For those who treat this "rehearsal hall" with the appropriate attitude and respect and follow the rules of the room, you are welcome to call this "your rehearsal hall," too.
Theft or property damage will be prosecuted to the full extent of the LAW. "You broke it, you bought it." Do not touch anything that does not belong to you.
Inappropriate language or actions: first you get to call your parents, tell them what you said or did, and THEN get an office referral for detention, AC, or suspension from school.
Refer back to Question #1:
We are here to perform music. Anything that gets in the way of maximizing our music is INAPPROPRIATE and NOT allowed. Music is not our primary business, it is our ONLY business. You cannot get the "FF" (FUN FACTOR) without this kind of focus.
You should be using 100% of your time and energy to learn to perform on your instrument and to maximize or musical FF. Do not waste energy or time on anything that is not related to that goal.
Three factors go into your band grade:
Most of our players have very good scores for playing tests and for daily work.
If your progress report or report card grade is under 90, that means you are not turning in your Practice Time Sheets.